The Key Learning Points:

1. Tips for overcoming self-doubt and making the first steps toward a career change

2. Although business is often perceived as cutthroat, in reality, people in the corporate world are still human and typically very supportive of one another - insurance included! 

3. That asking for help should be seen as a strength and not as a sign of weakness

We’re joined by Josie Clamp, an ex-teacher who recently entered the insurance industry. Josie runs her own company, Bright Lights Business Services, which partners with students and graduates to offer a range of services to insurance businesses. 

Josie studied sociology and was confronted with “off the cliff-edge panic” when she left university, realising that she didn’t know what she wanted to do. She admits that instead of thinking of pursuing something that she’d enjoy, Josie looked to see what jobs were available and then worked backwards to convince herself that that’s what she wanted to do. After hearing an advert on the radio, Josie decided to enter the world of teaching and explains that the decision gave her a “safety net”. Josie adds: “If I’m really honest, when I look back on it now, it was a case of panic decision making, based on a lack of clear direction, lack of drive, lack of confidence and lack of other options.” 

Josie was a maths teacher for three years in total but admits that she wasn’t happy. She always wanted to be a “high-flying career woman” but didn’t feel that she was achieving that. Josie adds: “When I stopped and looked at why I wasn’t changing direction. All of those reasons were tied up in fear. Fear of telling people, fear of the unknown, fear of not being good enough to do something different, fear of being back to square one.” Josie explains that she took a trip to Norway, which boosted her understanding of what she could do, and how brave she could be. “At that point, I made a decision to try and take fear out of the equation when it came to any decision in my life.” Josie left teaching in April 2019, not knowing what exactly she’d do, but says: “I can’t really regret it. Even if I fell flat on my face, I was so proud of myself for making that brave decision in the first place.” 

Like many of our podcast guests, Josie admits that she didn’t plan to go into insurance. She saw the business world was cut-throat and harsh and speaks of the horror stories she heard about the business world. She was pleasantly surprised to find that “people in business are still human”. Josie’s father has worked in insurance for a long time and helped Josie to make her first step into the industry. During our chat, Josie shares that she had some negative thoughts around her dad helping her and questioned whether her success was based on her dad’s help, or her own merit. Josies tells us about her mum who spoke to her about gremlins – things that undermine your ability and any positive thoughts you have. To combat those negative thoughts, Josie completed a visualisation exercise, picturing her dad only cracking open the door for her, but seeing herself pulling the door open, running into the room and staying put. She adds: “I need to acknowledge and appreciate that help from my dad but not let it define my success.”

Josie now runs her own business – Bright Lights Business Services. She started to do freelance work for her dad and through that accepted other work projects. She recently found herself in a position where she couldn’t handle all of the work herself and saw an opportunity to start growing what she was doing. She was keen to give back and help students who were approaching that “cliff-edge drop off” after education, to gain a bit of experience and some good industry connections. Josie says: “I feel like, for the first time, I’m thriving”, and we think she is too!